BCCI Scraps Over-Rate Bans: Hardik Pandya Likely Last IPL Captain to Face Suspension

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya may be the last skipper in IPL history to receive a suspension for slow over-rate violations. The BCCI has changed the rules for the 2025 IPL season, removing match bans for captains due to over-rate issues.

During a meeting at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, attended by all IPL team captains and managers, the board decided to scrap captain-specific penalties for slow over-rates.

New Over-Rate Rules for IPL 2025

According to a Cricbuzz report, instead of match bans, captains will now receive demerit points, based on the severity of the violation. These points will stay valid for three years, and only extreme cases will lead to a suspension.

In IPL 2024, both Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians) and Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals) faced one-match suspensions after their teams failed to maintain the required over-rate three times.

Since Mumbai’s third violation happened in their last league match, Hardik will serve his one-match suspension in IPL 2025’s first game against Chennai Super Kings on March 23. During his ban, Suryakumar Yadav will lead the team.

Fines Instead of Suspensions

• Level 1 offense: Players will lose 25-75% of their match fee and receive demerit points.
• Level 2 offense: If serious, it results in four demerit points.
• Four demerit points = A possible match ban or a 100% fine.

However, slow over-rates alone will no longer lead to suspensions.

Impact Player Rule Stays Until 2027

Cricbuzz also reported that the Impact Player rule, which allows teams to substitute a player during a match, will remain in place until at least 2027. The governing council will review it before making further changes.

With these new rules, captains will face penalties but avoid suspensions unless they repeatedly break the rules.